Her Silence, Her Shield

The first slap came before she could even look at her father. It echoed through the living room, leaving a burning sting across Valerie Moonstone's cheek. She staggered sideways but caught herself before she could fall. She jerked her head to get rid of the ringing sound in her ears so that she could hear why she was hit again this time. Her first instinct was to press her hand on her burning cheek. Instead, she tightened her grip on her worn-down maxi dress. “You will keep your head low and will behave through the ceremony. Don’t embarrass us in front of all the elites coming for the ceremony tonight,” Harper Moonstone, Valerie’s father and the alpha of the Moonstone Pack, ordered her while gritting his teeth. Valerie just nodded in response, keeping her head low. She had learned long ago that silence ended punishments faster than tears. She had no idea what ceremony Harper was talking about, but the single word lodged itself firmly in her mind. Around the long oak table, the servants kept their eyes fixed on the floor. None of them dared to look at the Alpha's eldest daughter. Some pitied her. Most simply feared sharing her fate. Harper adjusted the cuffs of his black uniform as though he hadn't just struck his own child. Harper didn't spare Valerie another glance. To him, she wasn't his daughter. She was merely a mistake that refused to disappear. The sound of light footsteps echoed from the grand staircase. Melanie Moonstone descended the staircase wearing a flowing cream-colored dress that perfectly complemented her golden curls. Her smile was bright enough to warm the room. Unlike Valerie’s pure silver hair and pale silver eyes, Melanie had inherited every attractive feature from their father. Harper’s expression softened instantly, but it became stern again when he realized that Valerie was still standing in the room. "What are you waiting for now?" he yelled at the maids, glaring at Valerie. “Take her and get her ready for the ceremony. The guests are about to arrive at any time,” he ordered the head-omega and spread his hands when Melanie came running to him. "Dad!" Melanie hurried into Harper's embrace, pouting like a spoiled child. “Why are you running, my love? You need to stay in your room tonight, okay?” Harper said to Melanie dotingly while holding her in his embrace. The omega servants immediately grabbed Valerie and almost dragged her out of the room. Valerie didn’t protest. Nothing is going to change if she protests. Protest means more hits and more pain. “Do I really need to stay in the room, Dad? You have prepared all my favorites.” Valerie heard Melanie whining behind her. Her cheeks were still burning from the slaps that she endured for no reason earlier. “You don’t need to go through the ceremony at Melanie’s place, Valerie. You know that we need to wait for our fated mate at any cost,” Xyla, Valerie’s wolf, whined in the back of her mind. She swallowed quietly, processing the whole farce. “Will we be in a problem if this mute takes my place? I am worried, Dad. This is the Wolf-Fang Pack we are talking about.” Melanie showed a fake worry, clutching Harper’s arms tightly. Valerie knew how crucial it was for them to find their fated mate, but she had no choice but to go through the ceremony tonight. She heard Melanie loud and clear, and it only made her sneer in contempt. Valerie's lips curved into a bitter smile. Melanie wasn’t worried about the pack or anyone else. She was worried about herself. Harper wasn't replacing one daughter with another because he didn’t want Melanie to be engaged to a cursed alpha. He was offering her as a sacrifice. Everyone knew Alpha Kaelen Blackthorne despised deception. The moment he discovered his promised bride had been switched, Valerie would become the first target of his fury. If Kaelen rejects the engagement or lays hands on Valerie after that, Harper can put all the blame on Valerie for being greedy and poisoning Melanie to replace her in this alliance. Also, Harper can request that the royal council annul this alliance and provide them with protection against Kaelen, as he has already killed one heir. Melanie would walk away untouched. Valerie would pay the price. “It’s also our only chance to get out of this pack, Xyla. Besides, do we really have a choice here?” Valerie spoke tiredly to her wolf, deciding to zone Melanie and Harper out. She had no choice but to go through everything that was coming her way tonight. Even if it meant facing Alpha Kaelen’s wrath. Years of abuse and mistreatment had weakened her body. She didn’t know if she would be able to survive if Kaelen Blackthorne struck her. Xyla wasn’t happy with Valerie’s decision, but she also knew why they needed to get out of this pathetic pack. Their pack… The place that should have been the safest for them had become their worst nightmare. “You could have stopped him this time,” Xyla remarked in displeasure. Every time anyone, especially their father, Harper Moonstone, laid his hand on Valerie, Xyla felt like killing him at once. “We will have our time, Xyla.” Valerie comforted her, but stumbled hard when the maids pushed her hard into a room. “Feel yourself lucky that you are going to be engaged to Alpha Kaelen, mute. Alpha Harper is doing you a great favor,” one of those maids spat in disgust while looking at Valerie up and down. Valerie didn’t fight, nor did she make any sound. She couldn’t. Because she was mute. Or this is what the whole world knew about her. “Do you know how many she-wolves dream of becoming Alpha Kaelen’s fiancée? Alpha Harper is doing you the greatest favor of your miserable life." Another maid sneered and shoved Valerie hard enough that her shoulder slammed against the dressing table. Valerie hissed in pain, and Xyla snarled at the back of her mind. Valerie suppressed her and took a few deep breaths before looking at those maids coldly. She had tightened her fists and refused to hold her throbbing shoulder. The room fell silent for a heartbeat before the maids burst into mocking laughter. “Look at her. I am scared now,” the first maid mocked, pointing a finger at Valerie, clutching her stomach while laughing. “She really thinks that she is going to be the Luna of the Wolf-Fang Pack?” another one mocked while laughing. Valerie’s expression didn’t change. Insults lost their sting after hearing them every day for nearly twenty-two years. “Enough.” The head omega, a she-wolf in her late forties, entered the room with a big bag in her hand. “The guests are going to enter the pack soon. You guys still have a lot of work to do. Finish getting her ready as quickly as possible,” she barked her orders while giving the bag to one of them. “Yes, Martha.” Everyone replied in unison and scattered to finish the work in their hands. Valerie just followed whatever they intended to do with her. Her body was in autopilot mode, but Xyla was restless. "What is it?" Valerie asked Xyla while the maids started combing her hair and cleaning her face to put on some makeup. "Luna Jessica especially instructed to put more concealer on all the bruise marks. Two elders from the royal council are also going to attend tonight's ceremony." Valerie heard someone whispering. "I don't know, Valerie. Something fell off," Xyla answered, sounding troubled. Valerie's heart skipped a beat. Before she could ask more, the room door burst open. "They are here." A maid yelled excitedly, running inside with a big bag holding the ceremonial gown.